"esterbrook #9550 Firm Ef Nib, In Original Box"-- Authentic Or Fake?

[I had this posting in the Nibs & Tines forum but I was told it would be better to have it in this Esterbrook forum. I didn't know how to transfer it so I just copied it to post here.]

Because I wanted to acquire a vintage Esterbrook J or transitional fountain pen (which would be my first old, used Esterbrook), I bought at eBay, in anticipation of very soon receiving the actual Esterbrook fountain pen, what was advertised as an "Esterbrook #9550 Firm Extra-Fine Renew-Point - Nib in Original Box". [My Esterbrook transitional fountain pen will be delivered to me soon.]

Today the mailman brought me the Esterbrook nib unit but I wonder if it's an authentic one or a knock-off fake made somewhere outside of the US. While the eBay ad photos do show the top side of the nib, I perhaps didn't notice something probably important in this matter. You see, the top side of the nib only has on it "Alloy Tipped Ex-Fine U.S.A."-- there's NO "Esterbrook" on the nib--> see below photo of it. I believe that real Esterbrook nibs for the J pens - and maybe/probably for the transitional pen too -- are #6 sized nibs. This nib I got today is smaller than the other non-Esterbrook #6 nibs I have-- it looks to be between a #5 and a #6 nib and it's rather narrow. The green plastic housing (which holds the nib and feed) looks as if it had been made an hour ago and the box also made maybe 2 hours ago: the box doesn't look like a box that had been sitting in a large box or drawer from some long closed pen shop and the box I have is made of quite thin, lightweight cardboard. [The very small nib-feed box looks exactly like other real, authentic Esterbrook boxes I've seen at eBay with these others looking a bit worn from being in and knocked about in a larger box or drawer somewhere for many, many years.]

Overall, the entire nib-feed unit seems small, diminutive-- though I've never held a real vintage Esterbrook J pen, this nib-feed unit looks so tiny -- so narrow, so short -- to me.

Remember: I've never owned nor held anywhere a real, authentic Esterbrook J or transitional fountain pen so I don't know if I'm correct or wrong about all this nib unit and box.

The seller's ad read:

VINTAGE ESTERBROOK #9550

FIRM EXTRA FINE

RENEW-POINT

NIB IN ORIGINAL BOX

New in box

Master Duracrome renew point

The entire length of the nib unit, from tipping to barrel-end of the green plastic collar/housing, is just 33 mm (or 1 5/16 inch). Knowing that real Esterbrook nibs are stainless steel, I put the nib next to a strong magnet but the nib wasn't pulled to the magnet so I figure this must mean the nib is real stainless steel.

Do you think, suspect or know that the "Esterbrook" nib-feed unit I got today is a real, authentic one or is it a fake made outside of the US?

Also, do you know if anyone in the world is known to be making these to look like and behave in the same way as vintage, real NOS Esterbrook nib-feed units?

I'm able to return the nib-feed unit. Fortunately, I'm given 30 days to do that.

Photos of this maybe or surely odd-looking "Esterbrook"/Esterbrook box and nib-feed unit--> Click on each photo to make it larger (or see the attachments if they're large enough):

Unused (new old stock) Esterbrook nibs and boxes can look surprisingly new. The box in the photo looks authentic and the nib size you describe also sounds correct.

However, I'd say the lack of an Esterbrook imprint on the nib is an issue. Esterbrook did make nibs outside the US (e.g. UK) but the ones I've seen have Esterbrook imprints. Perhaps others with more knowledge can weigh in.

That would be my guess as well. Were there photos of the actual nib in the listing? Or just the box? I would return it to the seller --and possibly open a dispute as well, since pretty clearly that's not an Estie nib (not sure it's a Venus nib, for that matter, but I don't have any of those).

I think I have a 9550 nib, but I won't be home till the weekend. But then I can dig it out and take photos.

Actually I just checked my records and I have THREE of them. Where are you located, mx-fan?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

"It's very nice, but frankly, when I signed that list for a P-51, what I had in mind was a fountain pen."

That would be my guess as well. Were there photos of the actual nib in the listing? Or just the box?

I would return it to the seller --and possibly open a dispute as well, since pretty clearly that's not an Estie nib (not sure it's a Venus nib, for that matter, but I don't have any of those).

I think I have a 9550 nib, but I won't be home till the weekend. But then I can dig it out and take photos.

Actually I just checked my records and I have THREE of them. Where are you located, mx-fan?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Thanks inkstainedruth for your thoughts about this. Yes, in the eBay ad, there were 3 photos of the box and 3 of the nib unit. I mentioned in my post at the top that I did see from one of the nib photos that there was no "Esterbrook" on the nib but it was maybe only when I received the nib today when I looked carefully at those ad nib photos and noticed the missing "Esterbrook" from the nib. I'm sure you're correct about this. After the holiday, I'll send it back to the seller.

[I wanted a vintage Esterbrook because it was made in my native state, but I was born in and grew up in the north end of that state by NYC. As you know, Esterbrooks were made in Camden, NJ (which is on the Delaware River and directly across from Philadelphia). I understand that the old factory still stands in Camden.]

Or an older Esterbrook 9550 nib. If it fits in an Esterbrook J, screwing down into the section, there would be another data point indicating it was made for an Esterbrook. Wartime nib? Depression nib? .

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

They took the blue from the skies and the pretty girls' eyes and a touch of Old Glory too . . .

Or an older Esterbrook 9550 nib. If it fits in an Esterbrook J, screwing down into the section, there would be another data point indicating it was made for an Esterbrook. Wartime nib? Depression nib? .

Hello pajaro,

I still think that "Esterbrook" should be on the nib-- unless some Esterbrook expert tells me otherwise, I don't think this is a wartime nib nor a Depression era nib. As I've written here, the box and the nib-feed unit look as if both had been made just an hour or two ago. The minuscule box shows no signs of having been in some larger box or drawer unused, NOS for decades-- there's no wear at all on the tiny, super-thin cardboard box.

San Francisco International Pen Show - They have dates! August 23-24-25, 2019 AND August 28-29-30, 2020. Book your travel and tables now! My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

It sounds like you were closer to the old Wearever (David Kahn Inc.) plant, in North Bergen.

Separated only by the dirty Passaic River, the north NJ town I grew up in was on the border with Bergen Co. but 'til you told us, I never knew that Wearever was in North Bergen. I don't know if I ever had a Wearever when I was young. Does Wearever still exist? Soon I'll look into them maybe adding one to my eclectic collection. Any suggestions for Wearevers to look at?

I still think that "Esterbrook" should be on the nib-- unless some Esterbrook expert tells me otherwise, I don't think this is a wartime nib nor a Depression era nib. As I've written here, the box and the nib-feed unit look as if both had been made just an hour or two ago. The minuscule box shows no signs of having been in some larger box or drawer unused, NOS for decades-- there's no wear at all on the tiny, super-thin cardboard box.

+1

All Estie Nibs (Later Venus) Had "Esterbrook" stamped on them Across the top (Later versions Vertical).

9xxx nibs are also Iridium tipped- (Alloy Tipped?). 1xxx/2xxx nibs had the "tipping" smoothed from the folded-over steel material...

The only known, (That I am aware of) legitimate company that made decent nibs (3rd Party) for Esties back in the day was "Osmaroid".. These were plated nibs that easily screwed into Esterbrook sections! Nothing fancy (also "rolled over", but they are pretty smooth!

Frank

"When, in the course of writing events, in becomes self-evident that not all pens are created equal" (Federalist Frank)

Does Wearever still exist? Soon I'll look into them maybe adding one to my eclectic collection. Any suggestions for Wearevers to look at?

As far as I know, Wearever is gone. (Eversharp apparently still exists as a brand name, for watercolor markers in South America and trimmable "universal" ballpoint refills in the U.S. (I once bought a couple at K-Mart).)

Wearevers to collect? I don't know -- a Deluxe 100? I have a beautiful unbranded David Kahn pen (identifiable by the patent number on the clip), probably from the 1930s, with a 12-sided barrel made of deep-green "candy stripe" celluloid (like a Duofold)... but I have no idea what it was sold as.

* * * "Don't neglect to write me several times from different places when you may."
-- John Purdue (1863)

The only known, (That I am aware of) legitimate company that made decent nibs (3rd Party) for Esties back in the day was "Osmaroid".. These were plated nibs that easily screwed into Esterbrook sections! Nothing fancy (also "rolled over", but they are pretty smooth!

FYI: the name is Osmiroid I need to locate my few nibs from the 70s, along with the #65 pen body.

(bleep)! I just bought one for my Icicle! It has a 30-day return policy, so if it does screw into my LJ and it writes the way I want it to, I won't return it. But, if it's scratchy and is incompatible, it's going the way it came from.

Who knows, maybe this might be the Japanese-like smooth XF I was looking for...

If you know it is not a real Esterbrook nib you should return it immediately. If you use it you should keep it.

San Francisco International Pen Show - They have dates! August 23-24-25, 2019 AND August 28-29-30, 2020. Book your travel and tables now! My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

One can clearly see the nib is not marked as a typical Esterbrook nib in the picture.

San Francisco International Pen Show - They have dates! August 23-24-25, 2019 AND August 28-29-30, 2020. Book your travel and tables now! My PM box is usually full. Just email me: my last name at the google mail address.

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